Concrete piling.



E. BIGNELL,

CONCRETE FILING.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.19.1912.

Patented May 14, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

F.. BIGNELL.

CONCRETE PILING.

APPLICATION FILED 121311.19. 1912.

1,026,144. Patented May 14. 1912.

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@Hoz/nag .EDWARD BIGNELL, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

CONCRETE FILING.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Application Bled February 19, 1912. Serial No. 678,470.

To all/whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWARD BIGNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, 4have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete Piling, of which the following, is a specification.

This invention has reference to an improvement in piling, of the class wherein the pile is formed of a cement or concrete body within which is contained and upon which is mounted structural parts for conducting air or water, under pressure, to be discharged at its bottom and sides, while in an upright position, to excavate the ground, so that 1t may sink by gravity to a required depth.

The invention is presented as an improvement of the concrete piling illustrated and claimed in a companion application for Letters Patent filed by Edward--Bignell July s1, 1911, Serin No. 641,608. herein described construction is similar thereo, it embodies improved features which will be fully explained' and claimed, said improvements consisting, in part, of bearings at the lower terminal ofthe pile, and discharge-members or nozzles projecting be'- low the bottom of the pile and so arranged that they may be conveniently withdrawn from the bearings after the pile has been sunk; also a more extensive and effective discharge for excavating the ground, and certain other useful features.

By use of the herein described construction, all of the metallic operating parts may be removed from the pile after it has been sunk, whereby the expenses in the practice of sinking concrete piles may be materially reduced.

The invention illustrates the employment of a plurality of barrels, housing-tubes or reservoirs of uniform length with closed lower ends, said tubes or reservoirs being formed in and extending longitudinally of and opening upon the upper end of the pile for conducting water, under pressure, each being provided with numerous conduits transversely traversing lthe concrete body of the pile; and the employment of pipes disposed in the reservoirs for conducting water, under pressure, and provided with discharge-members or nozzles which extend below' the fiat bottom of the pile; also the invention illustrates the employment of me- While the vtallic screw-caps which may be secured for use, after the couplings have been removed, as bearing-blocks upon the upper ends of the piles, this being useful for bridge-work; and reinforcing means employed in formlngthe concrete tongue and groove, at op- `poslte sides of the pile, for connecting one pile with another.

The invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the drawing, wherein,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a concrete pile embodying my invention, parts being broken away and in section to more clearly show construction. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the pile on a smaller scale than Fig. l, the nozzles being removed from the bottom of the pile, certain operating partsI being removed from the upper end of the pile and replaced by the screw-cap. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the pile on line a a of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail relating to Fig. 1 to clearly show the mountings of the nozzles in 4the base or bearingplate of the pile, the tubular housing or reservoir and the bearing-plate being in section, the boss ofthenozzle being broken away. Fig. 5 is a side view, partly in section, of the screw-cap. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a pile, a part of a connected pile also being shown. Fig. 7 is a view, partly broken, showing the lower end of a pile provided with a single reservoir or housing-tube, a single conducting pipe and single nozzle.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, numeral 8 indicates the elongated body of a pile constructed of concrete, and preferably having upon its base a metallic bearing-plate 9, said plate being disposed at right angles to the lon.- gitudinal axis of the pile and suitably secured thereto. By this construction a flat bottom is provided for the pile, this form tending to prevent breakage, and also providing greater stability for the pile when used in soft ground or riparian work. Upon the sides of the pile, opposite to each other, are respectively formed the longitudinal tongue or ridge 10 and the longitudinal Groove 1I, these parts preferably being reinforced by metallic stra'nds 12 which may be embedded in the concrete material at the time the pile is molded or formed.

At 13 are indicated housingtubes disposed within and extending ,longitudinally of the body of the pile, their upper ends opening upon the upper flat terminal of the pile, and their lower ends being seated upon the bearing-plate.. Depressions or annular recesses 14 maybe formed in the upper end of the pile to circumscribe-members 13, and the upper ends of ,said members 13 are threaded as indicated at b.

At 15 are indicated discharge-members or nozzles, each disposed in a manner toA pro- .'of members 13, by entering recesses 14, each of these couplings being provided with a supply-pipe 19; the couplings provide a conduit for water within the housing-tubes 13 from said supply pipes, an arrangement of threaded bushings e being provided for the mounting of t-he upper end of each conducting pipe 17 and preventing the escape` of water from the upper ends of said tubes 13.

At 20 are indicated supply pipes mounted u on the upper ends lof conducting .pipes 17); and water under pressure from any suitable source may be conducted to said pipe 17 and may beconducted below the bottom of the pile and discharged through the nozzles. In the concrete body of the pile and particularly toward its lower end, are formed apertures 21. They are inclined upwardly and outwardly from ,each housing-tube 13 and form passageways from said 1 tubes to open promiscuously upon all of the sides of the pile, the function being that the `water thus discharged from pipes 13 will loosen the ground at the sides of the pile to remove adhesions and reduce friction, so that the pile may sink more readily.

It will be understood that housing tubes 13, bearing-plate 9 and the I reinforcin strands 12 are secured in rigid relation wit i the' pile at the time the `latter is molded.

Alt of the other metallic parts employed are of considerable .value, comparatively, andl cally to be sunk, water under pressure is caused to pass through pipes 17. Since the nozzles project to a considerable distance below the bottom of the pile, the ground will be loosened and the pile will sink on account of its weight. After the pile has been partly' 'of sinking the pile will be facilitated.

Byreferring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the nozzles and conducting pipes are reversely threaded; and therefore a pipe 17 may beHrot-ated in one direction to cause an upward movement of the nozzle, said nozzle leaving the threaded mounting in the bearing-plate and passing within the housingtube 13, and by these means the conducting pipes and nozzles may be removed, after the pileA had been sunk. Also it will ,be noted, by reference to Fig. 4 that a conductingpipe 17 Amay be rotated in a direction to cause its release from the nozzle, said nozzle remaining in its bearings, and this construction is of advantage Since in some instances, it may be desirable to remove the lner already described, so that, by use lof derricks or other r lifting means they may be removed. And the present construction of a pile and operating parts therefor has for one of its important features the provision of means for aiding inthe removal as well as for sinkin Vthe pile. n' M After a pi e has been sunk, another pile maybe connectedtherewith, the tongue or ridge 10 of one pile engaging in the groove 11 of an adjacent pile, and this is useful when forming piers or bridge-work.

A screw-cap or coupling isindicated 'at 22. It is provided atits middle with an interiorly-threaded, annular projection 23 for a mounting upon the threaded terminal b of one of members 13, or the one located substantiall at the longitudinal middle of .the pile. fter the cap has .been rotated, its projection 23 will be disposed within a recess 14, and the screw-cap provides albearing-head for the complete pile'.

Fig. 7 shows a pile having a body ortion- 8of concrete with a longitudinal ri ge 10,. and a longitudinal. groove 11 formed upon two of 'its sides, opposite to each other; aV single, central longitudinal housing-tube 13 being employed, with transverse branches, jet-apertures or passageways 21 communieating therewith and providing discharge ports at the sides of the pile. It also shows a conducting pipe 17 disposed in the housing-tube and provided with a nozzle 15' projecting below the flat bottoln of the pile. The construction and operation is substantially the same as already described. It is useful where the ground is wet or marsby or otherwise in condition to ofi'er a slight resistance to the Vsinking of the pile. Also this modified form may be used in the construction of piles having a limited thickness or length.

In constructing the herein described piles, the longitudinal tongues and grooves may be used or omitted as may be desired, and while I have shown a pile substantially square, in cross-section, I do not limit myself to this feature.

Among some of the advantages to be derived by use of the herein described pile, it may be stated that the ground is rendered loose and plastic at a considerable distance below the bottom of the pile, and therefore piles with 'flat bottoms may be sunk more readily than by other means. Also since, as shown in Fig. 1, a provision is made for a plurality ofl jet-discharges below the flat bottom, a control may be made in the downward movement of the pile to maintain the same vertically, the control of each ofthe discharges through pipes 17 being separate and distinct from the other. This is particularly useful where the piles are sunk in the bottoms of flowing streams or in yielding ground, for, as is obvious, if the excavation be made at one side and below the bottom of the pile, there will be a tendency for a movement of the lower end of the pile in a direction of the excavation.

While cement or concrete piles 'have great comparative durability, they are practically useless unless operative mechanism is provided for sinking them. These operative parts are expenslve, comparatively. In the present instance the constructionY has been greatly simplified, also the parts are few and may be conveniently made; and practically all of the metallic parts are removable from the pile after it has vbeen sunk, except the housing tubes v which operate to reinforce the pile. p

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is,--

1. In combination with the elongated body of a pile having a flat bottom, a plurality of nozzles mounted upon and projecting below. said bottom, and means to conduct separate columns of water under pressure through the pile, eachof said columns communicating with one of said nozzles.

. 2. In combination with the elongated body of a pile having a fiat bottom, a nozzle mounted u on and projecting below said bottom, a uct vf'ormed within and extending longitudinall of the pile adapted to conduct water un er pressure to said nozzle.

3. The combination of a pile formed witl longitudinal apertures and transverse passageways communicating with the apertures. to open upon its sides; a bearing-plate provided with nozzles and mounted upon the bottom of the pile to form a closure for said apertures; conducting pipes communicating with the nozzles and traversing said apertures, said nozzles projecting below the bearing-plate.

4. In combination with a pile having a .body of adhesive material, a housing-tube embedded within and traversing the pile longitudinally, said tube being provided with a closure at its lower terminal and having branches between its terminals opening upon the sides of the pile; a conducting pipe traversing the housing-tube, and a nozzle in communication with the conducting-pipe and projecting below the bottom of said pile.

5. In combination with a pile having a body of adhesive material, a bearing-plate disposed at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis and mounted upon the bottom .of the pile;a nozzle mounted in and projecting below the bearing-plate; and a pipe adapted to conduct water under' pressure longitudinally traversing the pile and having removable connection with said nozzle.

6. In combination with a pile having a longitudinally apertnred body and transverse passageways communicating with the aperture and opening upon its sides; a fiat bearing-plate mounted upon the bottom and disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pile; a nozzle removably mounted in and projecting below the bearing-plate, and `a conducting pipe traversing the aperture and removably mounted upon said nozzle.

7. In combination with a pile having a plurality of apertures formed longitudinally therein and transverse passageways communicating with said apertures and opening upon its sides; a substantially fiat bearing-plate mounted upon the bottom and disposed substantially at ri ht angles to the longitudinal axis of the pi e; nozzles removably mounted in and projectingr below the bearing-plate; and a plurality of conducting-pipes, each being mounted at its upper Aend-upon the upper terminal of the pile and traversing one of said apertures and having removable connection with a nozzle.

8. In combination with the elongated body ofa pile formed with apertures extending longitudinally therethrough, with transverse branches opening upon its sides, and formed with' an oppositely-disposed tongue and groove extending longitudinally upon its sides; a tubular member mounted in each aperture in communication with the branches thereof; a substantially fiat bearin -plate mounted upon the bottom of the pi e and formingclosures for said apertures and tubular. members, said plate being disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pile; nozzles threaded in and projecting below thebearing-plate; conducting-pipes disposed Yin said 'tubular members and'having threaded connections with said nozzles; each of said tubular members being provided with a separate supply pipe for conducting Water under pressure thereto for a discharge thereof throu h its trans- 'verse branches; each of the con' ucting pipes being provided with a separate pipe to supply water under pressure thereto for a discharge through one of said nozzles.

9. In combination with. the elongated body of a pile provided withqa 4longitudinally disposed tongue and groovmv'and'with a substantially Hat, transversely disposed .bearingplate upon its bottom; nozzles mounted in and projecting below said bearing-plate; pipes traversing the body of the pile, said pipes being connected with and adapted to conduct a iiuid or liquid element. under pressure to said nozzles, said conducting pipes being rotatable in one direction to cause their release from the nozzles,' and being rotatable in an opposite direction to cause a release of the nozzles from said bearingplate. v

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature in presence f two witnesses.

, EDWARD BIGNELL. Witnesses:

' HIRAM A. STURGES,

A. F. CLARK. 

